Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, and Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, listen to testimony during last year's civil unions bill. She was a "no" then but hasn't said how she will vote this year.

Two years ago, Rep. B.J. Nikkel raised eyebrows when she showed up at a gay-rights luncheon. After all, she had worked for former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave.

“Why shouldn’t I be here?” Nikkel said, at the time. “They’re all Coloradans, and I think it’s important to understand their issues.”

Musgrave, who served the 4th Congressional District until being defeated in 2008, was perhaps best known as a co-sponsor of a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Nikkel was Musgrave’s district director from 2003 to 2006.

Her fellow Loveland Republican, Rep. Brian DelGrosso, also is considered a swing vote. Four other GOP committee members — Bob Gardner, Mark Waller, Jerry Sonnenberg and Randy Baumgardner — are expected to vote “no.”

Because the committee consists of six Republicans and five Democrats, even one “yes” vote from a GOP member would send Senate Bill 2 on to another committee. A nearly identical civil-unions bill died last year on a party-line vote, with Nikkel and DelGrosso voting against the measure.

I’m a lesbian, a Coloradan, and I married the love of my life in Connecticut. That’s right, not Colorado where my friends and family live, no…instead we were married in Connecticut. When we drove across the state border from Connecticut into New Jersey my heart sank. Did this mean that if we got into a car accident not a 1/4 mile from where we were just married that I’d be treated like a stranger/not next of kin? This bill is not marriage, but it is a step in the right direction. However I have to wonder, if we get a civil union in Colorado so that we can have some protections and rights where we live, what does that do to my marriage in Connecticut? Until there is equal and universal marriage equality in this country, it’ll be a mess. We pay our taxes, we vote, and we deserve equal protection under the law. I love my wife and want to spend the rest of my life with her. I understand the responsibility that comes with marriage. I worry about the safety of my wife and our house if something were to happen to me. If we got a lawyer to help us, it would cost about $15,000 for us to get a fraction of the legal protections that legal married couples enjoy freely. Even if you think all gay people have somehow got it wrong and that it’s against God and his wishes, isn’t that between me and God? While I am on this earth and live in this country, I will fight for the right to be married to the love of my life. How could I do anything else?

Visitor

Same-sex couples and even hetero couples may not want marriage, but instead civil union, since the tax system is still structured to subsidize the sole breadwinner/sole parent marriage. You can save tax $, in certain cases, in a civil union over marriage.

geography…

THere is no border between NJ and Connecticut.

Davidjohnson813

LOL. What a maroon. She must have attended a public school where they skipped teaching geography but did teach ” Johnny has two mothers”.

Guest

Maybe she went to the same school that you did. Did you mean call her a moron or is there some implied insult to being called the color maroon.

Bobyatesboulder

Having grown up in that tiny, forgetable portion of New York State that connects Connecticut to New Jersey, Ziolo should be granted poetic license to make her point.

Davidjohnson813

You are obviously not ‘up’ on your Looney Tunes.I suggest that you revisit Bugs Bunny cartoons of the 1950’s. That humor might loosen up the tighter parts of your anatomy.

Anonymous

Wow, quite the zinger you made there! Making an outdated reference to a cartoon from 60 years ago is a great way to slam someone. You really got him or her real good! I suggest you join the 21st century. That move might loosen up the closed part of your brain.

Oh, and Johnny has two FATHERS. It is Jeremy that has two mothers….

Anonymous

The rightie-tightie beast must have its sacrifice. GLBT couples make the perfect appetizer.
I have to wonder how much Nikkel’s and DelGrosso’s alleged noncommittal is only for show?
I suppose if Mitt Romney can have a gay spokesperson — Oops! I think he resigned, then Nikkel can be open minded. But! Considering the many years Musgrave pushed her “no gay marriage” bill, considering that “no gays” was a centerpiece of her political appeal, considering her massive efforts at a “heterosexual marriage only, missionary position preferred” constitution amendment, …
Would Musgrave really have had a chief staffer who thought that civil unions for gay or lesbian people were just dandy?
The proof is in the voting, not mere words and footsie-playing with the press.
I’ll believe those two are fair-minded when they vote “yes” and send the bill to the House floor for debate — and the leadership of both parties tells its members that this is a “conscience vote”. No political reprisals.

Lisa

Exactly. If this does not go through, it was just smoke and mirrors, as far as I am concerned.

justsayno

just say no to homo marriage as civil unions is a “backdoor” way for homos to arrive at their agenda: special rights.

special rights?? since when is it a “special right” to marry? Men can marry women so shouldn’t women be allowed to marry women? Women can marry men so men should be allowed to, too. Simple stuff and no one’s business but the couple’s

dontbegay

no, homos and lesbos shouldn’t be able to marry of the same sex. pretty simple stuff. i bet your a sausage slurper, ain’t that right bro

Romerorandy

Oh your such a word smith

Anonymous

Nikkel has a strong future. I think it is a mistake to assume that the Republicans are against gays despite the outspoken views of some social conservatives. If they were a real power in the party, Santorum and not Romney would be the Republican nominee. Musgrave was close to Cheney when in office. Cheney has a lesbian daughter.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.